The next day, Shichen opened his eyes and found himself staring straight into a pair of beautiful blue eyes.
They were pure and sincere, yet steady and determined—and smiling. In those blue pupils, he could even see his own reflection.
"When did you wake up?" Shichen asked lazily as he held the girl in his arms. He'd only just woken up and still felt sleepy.
"Not long ago," Jeanne replied with a soft smile, still looking at him.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Shichen couldn't help asking.
"Am I not allowed to?" Jeanne countered.
"It's not that…"
"Then it's fine. I'm just… really satisfied that you're the first thing I see when I wake up."
Shichen's gaze softened. "I'd be satisfied waking up and seeing you first, too."
"That's all it takes to satisfy you?"
"Hm?"
"I want a good-morning kiss," Jeanne said seriously.
"…That's not supposed to be your exclusive privilege."
"Right. It's everyone's privilege," Jeanne admitted cheerfully, "but I'm still thinking about last night."
"You're really bold."
Shichen honestly felt like he'd somehow become the one being "pursued" in a game—except the one doing the pursuing was Jeanne of all people.
And… it wasn't bad. Kind of addicting, even.
"Don't you like girls who take the initiative?" Jeanne asked openly, without the slightest embarrassment.
"Well… yes, but—"
"Then stop talking and kiss me," Jeanne said, leaning in and closing her eyes.
Her face was right there—long lashes, a straight nose, fair skin, soft pink lips so close he could see every detail.
Shichen couldn't resist. He lowered his head and kissed her.
That "good-morning kiss" snapped Shichen fully awake. After that, they got up together and left the room.
The bed was tidy—only the sheets were a little rumpled. Shichen and Jeanne still hadn't fully crossed the final line, but they were very close.
When they stepped into the living room, they found Rin already dressed in her school uniform.
"Rin, you're up early."
"Shichen… I…" Rin turned to him—and froze.
Jeanne was with him.
There was no need to guess what that meant: they'd been together all night.
A strange feeling stirred in Rin's chest—toward Jeanne, and toward Shichen too.
"Rin's eyes are still a little red," Jeanne noticed at once. "Shichen, you should help her."
"Let me see… yeah, they really are." Shichen looked closely. There was faint redness and a bit of swelling—like she'd cried hard.
"H-Huh? Are they?" Rin looked away, embarrassed.
"Hold still. I'll fix it," Shichen said, leaning closer and gently touching her face.
A soft green light shimmered over Rin's features, warm with life. Rin stayed perfectly still, staring at him—at his focused expression, and at the warmth of his hand.
It only took a few seconds. When Shichen pulled back, Rin's eyes looked normal again, and her complexion even seemed brighter.
Rin, however, didn't comment on his ability at all. She was still staring at him in a daze.
Jeanne smiled at the scene and stepped away. "I'll go wash up."
Shichen sat beside Rin and teased, amused. "What? Mesmerized?"
"I-I'm not…" Rin snapped out of it, turning away—only for her cheeks to flare red all the way to her ears.
"Sure," Shichen said, clearly entertained.
Rin could feel his gaze and hear the laughter in his voice, and the embarrassment finally boiled over.
She spun around and—flustered and annoyed—thumped his chest with her fists.
"Don't laugh at me!"
"I'm not laughing at you," Shichen said, catching her and holding her close. "I just think you're really cute."
"C-Cute?!" Rin jolted like she'd been struck by lightning.
No one ever called her "cute." People said she was impressive, perfect, untouchable… but "cute"?
And for some reason, hearing it from him hit her harder than any compliment.
"Shichen… you really think I'm cute?" she mumbled into his chest.
"Very cute," he answered honestly.
Rin's face burned hotter. Her heart was pounding so loudly she swore it could be heard.
She didn't dare look at him. She just stayed hidden in his arms.
But Shichen, of course, wasn't about to let her hide forever. He tried to pull her back a little so he could see her face.
Rin clung tighter, refusing to let go.
He tugged again and realized—ridiculously—he couldn't pull her off him.
Shichen's eyes dropped, and mischief flashed across his face.
Before Rin understood what he was doing, he gave her a sharp, startling swat on the backside.
Smack.
The sound echoed in the quiet living room.
Rin went completely blank for a moment—then the heat rushed up her neck like wildfire.
"You—?!" she looked up, face blazing, stunned and furious and mortified all at once.
Shichen smiled as he gently held her face. "There. Now you're looking at me."
Rin was still trying to recover when she realized what was happening next—Shichen was leaning in.
Her mind short-circuited.
In the end, she could only squeeze her eyes shut—
—and he kissed her.
Rin's heartbeat thundered in her ears.
It was just a kiss, and yet it felt like electricity racing through her whole body—light and dizzy and impossible to ignore.
And when the kiss deepened, the feeling intensified until she could barely think.
Rin tried to keep her composure, failed, and finally stopped resisting—closing her eyes and letting herself be carried along.
The house was quiet. The morning was still. The only sounds were faint, intimate noises that made the moment feel even more unreal.
Rin felt herself sinking—thoughts dissolving, body going soft—
Until—
"Onee-chan?"
Rin jerked away in sheer panic, snapping her head toward the voice.
And there, smiling gently, was Sakura.
Rin's soul nearly left her body.
She had no idea how long Sakura had been there, but she knew one thing: Sakura had definitely seen enough.
Rin didn't say a single word. Face burning, she sprang up and bolted away at top speed.
Shichen, meanwhile, waved at Sakura as if nothing had happened. "Sakura, why are you up so early?"
Sakura walked over and sat right on his lap.
"I woke up with my sister."
"…I see. And you just now—"
"Don't worry, Onii-chan," Sakura said softly. "I didn't see anything."
"…" Shichen fell silent.
He hadn't cared—until Sakura said that. Now, somehow, he felt awkward.